Retinopathy of prematurity is a modern disease.

Retinopathy of prematurity is a very serious, almost incurable disease that affects the mesh membrane of the eyes of premature babies. This disease is associated with the fact that for the care of prematurely born babies in medicine, in particular neonatology, large concentrations of the oxygen gas mixture have become widely used, which are simply disastrous for the underdeveloped retina. This new disease ophthalmologists of the world has long been dubbed as a "disease of invasion" of mankind and science into natural processes. In the not so distant past, children who were born before the deadline died. Now modern care and the newest systems of support of ability to live of newborns allow to save a life to the fruits which were born on 3-4 months earlier of prospective sorts and in weight from 500 grammes. The conditions of development in the ordinary atmospheric air and in ordinary daylight are significantly different from those of the child in the womb of the mother. There, oxygen enters the body of a child with a current of maternal blood in certain doses and in total darkness, which is very important for the normal formation of the retina. In an artificial environment, such conditions are not yet respected. Therefore, in prematurely born children there is a complex eye pathology - retinopathy of prematurity.

Retinopathy of prematurity is divided into five stages, which characterize the severity of the pathological process. Progression of this eye disease to the last stages can lead to irreversible scar tissue formation in the retina and vitreous humor, which subsequently leads to a formidable complication - funnel-shaped retinal detachment and vitreous hemorrhage. All these processes are fraught with the development of amblyopia, strabismus, myopia or blindness.

Retinopathy in premature infants is very difficult to diagnose, since children under two years are not able to make complaints about the lack of visual functions. Therefore, parents should always be cautious in this regard. Mums and dads need to learn to notice the first symptoms that characterized retinopathy of prematurity:

• The child keeps his toys too close to the eyes;
• Does not notice deleted objects;
• He prefers to look at the surrounding things with only one eye;
• He tries to blink with only one eye;
• He does not want to use another eye to look at;
• Appearance of strabismus;
• Sharp deterioration or even loss of vision.

Babies with an increased risk of retinopathy of prematurity should undergo ophthalmological examination from 4-6 weeks of their life. After drug mydriasis, i.e. Expansion of pupils with the help of special eye drops, the doctor examines in detail the child's eye bottom with the help of a direct or binocular ophthalmoscope. Even if there is no need for treatment, the baby needs a regular monthly check-up, until the doctor is satisfied that the progression of the pathological process has stopped.

Treatment of retinopathy of prematurity .

In children with the first and second stage, a spontaneous cessation of the signs of the disease can occur, and the retina will begin to develop as it should. However, when reaching a certain threshold level (the third stage), it is necessary to take serious measures to prevent the development of detachment. At the present stage of radical methods of treatment of retinopathy, there are no prematurity. For prophylactic purposes, children undergo laser coagulation of the retina or cryocoagulation. To more complex methods of treatment include surgical treatments: circular sealing of the sclera (with a partial detachment of the reticular membrane), vitrectomy (complete removal of the vitreous body).